Henry & June

Director: Philip Kaufman

Overview

The first film to wear the MPAA's NC-17 rating, Philip Kaufman's steamy account of the relationship between writers Anaïs Nin and Henry Miller comes to DVD with this release. Featuring interactive menus, a theatrical trailer, film highlights, talent bios, production notes, and web links, the disc presents the film in a nice-looking widescreen 1.66:1 transfer. Add to that English and French Dolby Digital Surround audio tracks, and Henry & June is a DVD that should be pleasing to fans. Spanish subtitles are also available.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/23/1999
UPC:	0025192051821
Original Release:	1990
Rating:	NC-17
Source:	Universal Studios
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Surround]
Time:	2:17:00
Sales rank:	27,502

Special Features

Production notes; Cast and filmmakers' bios; Film highlights; Theatrical trailer; Web links

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Maria de Medeiros	Anais Nin
Fred Ward	Henry Miller
Uma Thurman	June Miller
Richard Grant	Hugo Guiler
Kevin Spacey	Richard Osborn
Jean-Philippe Ecoffey	Eduardo Sanchez
Bruce Myers	Jack
Féodor Atkine	Paco Miralles, Spanish Dance Instructor
Sylvie Huguel	Emilia
Artus de Penguern	Brassai
Pierre Etaix	Friend
Gaetan Bloom	Magician
Alexandra de Gall	Clown
Brigitte Lahaie	Henry's Whore
Maite Maille	Frail Prostitute
J. Bunuel	Publisher/Editor
Pierre Edemac	Actor
Samuel Ateba	Black Musician for Quat'z Arts Ball
Louis Bessieres	Accordionist
Karine Couvelard	Osborn's Girl Friend
Maurice Escargot	Pop
Annie Fratellini	The Patronne
Liz Hasse	Jean
Frank Heiler	Steamship Agent
Claire Joubert	Contortionist
Stephanie Leboulanger	Prostitute Brushing Long Hair
Marc Maury	Man in Silent Film
Suzy Palatin	Bal Negre Performer
Annie Vincent	Fat Prostitute

Technical Credits

Philip Kaufman	Director,Musical Direction/Supervision,Screenwriter
Mark Adler	Score Composer
Dede Allen	Editor
Yvonne Sassinot de Nesle	Costumes/Costume Designer
Nathalie Erlbaum	Choreography
Guy-Claude Francois	Production Designer
Thierry Francois	Art Director,Set Decoration/Design
Georges Glon	Art Director
Vivien Hillgrove	Editor
Peter Kaufman	Producer
Rose Kaufman	Musical Direction/Supervision,Screenwriter
Didier Lavergne	Makeup
Philippe Rousselot	Cinematographer
William Scharf	Editor
Alan Splet	Sound/Sound Designer
Jacqueline West	Consultant/advisor

Scene Index

Side #1
0. Chapter List
1. Main Titles
2. Pussy Willow
3. Henry Miller
4. Portrait of June
5. Henry and June
6. Distortion
7. The Affair
8. Henry's World
9. The Diary
10. Taps on the Chin
11. Treachery
12. Stimulation
13. A Dream
14. Tropic of Cancer
15. Unknown Affair
16. June's Return
17. End of the Affair
18. Epilogue/Titles

Menu

Side #1
   Bonus Materials
      Production Notes
      Cast & Filmmakers
         Fred Ward
         Uma Thurman
         Maria de Medeiros
         Richard E. Grant
         Kevin Spacey
         Philip Kaufman
      Theatrical Trailer
      Universal Web Links
   Language Selection
      Spoken Languages
         English
         Français
      Captions & Subtitles
         Captioned for the Hearing Impaired
            English
         Subtitles
            Español
            None
      Return to Movie
   Play

Editorial Reviews

It's not every day that the Motion Picture Association of America creates a new rating, but that's what happened in 1990 with Henry & June, Philip Kaufman's biography of author Henry Miller. By giving the film the an NC-17 rating, the MPAA allowed it to be seen in many parts of mainstream America, where an X-rating would have meant banishment. Though the rating has since become almost as reviled as the X, the intended differentiation between pornography and art was clear. In the end, Henry & June is not particularly erotic, but it is boldly sensual, in the vein of Kaufman's previous film The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Most of the performances -- save for Fred Ward's portrayal of the rather pitiful Miller and Kevin Spacey's minor but memorable role -- are overshadowed by the film's visual splendor. Even the alluring Uma Thurman (as Miller's wife, June) and Maria de Medeiros (as Anaïs Nin) can't compete with production designer Guy-Claude François' stunning recreation of 1930s Paris. Philippe Rousselot was rightfully nominated for an Academy Award for his lavish cinematography.

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